Century Quote by Victor Hugo
“There have been in this century only one great man and one great thing: Napoleon and liberty. For want of the great man, let us have the great thing.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Les Misérables, 1862
Napoleon represents great men; liberty is the great thing; without the man, the ideal persists.
In simple terms: Great individuals matter, but liberty endures beyond them.
Key Takeaway
Value liberty over individual heroes.
Themes
history
leadership
freedom
legacy
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
historical
political
reflective
When to use this quote
- civic education
- political activism
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
political theory
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What sustains liberty without a great leader?
- Can individuals truly embody ideals?
A Different Perspective
Liberty can be compromised without strong leadership.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
